Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-05-26
NAVAL sLUNo-sHoT.
Dynamite at the End OF = Rope 60 Ne
Used In blowing Up Navles.


Used In blowing Up Navies.
American inventive genius has pro-
duced some startling results. but It
never took a more daring fight than
that Of adopting the slune s.-s at
naval warfare. A plan for attack on
the high seas is really in existence, the
model being on exhibition in the rooms
Of the Naval Committee of the House,
and is seriously approved by many
able officers here, which is practically
the sinking Of an iron-clad with a dyn-
amite slung-shot. II is essentially an
American idea a death grapple at
close quarters. with no spectacular et-
fects, no comet-like shells or torpedo
water-spouts. II is the latest inodiiica-
tion of General Berdan's system.
The recent experiments in Europe,
where 1t took 1900 pounds Of dynamite
to shatter twcnty-inch armor-plato
when exploded two feet beneath
the waters surface, and the fail
ure of Whitehead torpedo to
disable gun-boat when lashed
to its side and exploded, have
shaken the faith of the officers in the
efficiency Of torpedoes when exploded
near the water line. More than that,
the nets now used seem To offer an inn
penetrable bar 10 the surface torpedo,
as shown by their failure in the great
trial at Bantry bay two years ago. A
few days ago the department received
from Whitehead a refusal TO compete
in prospective trial here, saying: IL
do not pretend to conquer the nets"
General Berdan's idea Is TO strike at
the bottom Of the ship where there is
no armor and where the explosive Is
confined by the pressure Of the water.
He builds light, unarmOred cruiser OF
$50 feet length and sixteen feet draft.
Men and machinery arc all below the
water line, and the enemy's ironclad
may blaze away all she wants to as the
swift cruiser creeps up on her Point
ing over the side Of the Berdan cruiser.
smidships and 10 the rear. are n num-
Der Of breech-loading guns that can be
inclined at any angle from the hori-
zontal to perpendicularly downward.
In the guns are placed shells contain
ing three or four hundred pounds Of
gun cotton. A wire cable, or ''snub-
bing cord" extends from the she'll out
of the mouth Of the gun and along tho
side Of the cruiser TO the bows, where
IL Is so fastened as To swing freely.
The cruiser steams rapidly up to the
big ironclad, preferably in the night.
but even in broad daylight regardless
of an occasional shot that may tear
through her upper works. She pushes
through the nets, and when the twenty
five-foot spar projecting from her bows
touches the ironclad the engine is auto
matically reversed and some rocket ma
terial in the back Of the dynamite she'll
ignited. The she'll drops from the
mnzzle Of the gun, which Is pointed
downward, and plows down through
the water on the circumference Of q
circle whose radius is the length Of its
snubbing-cord and whose center is the
bow Of the cruiser. When actdal con-
tact between the cruiser and iron-clad
ottuI Aht Huofh II lflltNth ny an AZ
mospheric bniler. The she'll comes up
on the bottom Of the iron-clad like =
slungshot Con the head Of a belated
way-farer, and something is apt 10 be
smashed.
As there are number Of these guns
and shells on each cruiser they may be
fired at different angles from the per-
pendicular, aud will slrik at different
points along the bottom Of the iron
clad. Thit is regarded as an important
point, as with the cellular ships now
built II is doubtful IL one torpedo. how
ever powerful, can sink big iron-clad.
II the iron-clad sends out torpedo boats
against the cruiser. they will be met
by improved Fish torpedoes operated
from the latter The cruisers would
cost about 500, 900 apiece, and II they
fulfill the expectations Of the officers
and inventor they would seem to solve
the problem Of the "chea? defense Of
nations. - Washington Cor. Chicdgo
Herald